Write Now: This cat is making two big mistakes. What are they? Answer: (1) eating a cactus (2) taste should have an "s" on it because the subject (cat food) is singular)
(bonus) cat food is two words
Keep the definition simple: paradox = a contradiction
Provide a number of examples.
Then: Test how well students understand the concept of a paradox by playing, "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon.
FOCUS QUESTION: Does this song contain a paradox? EXPLANATION: Paradoxically, Simon says, "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you!" as if the song is NOT about him and he would be wrong, conceited, and vain to think it was. In reality, the song IS about him. However, Simon might argue that this is not a paradox because the song isn't about his good qualities (qualities for which he should feel vain/proud) it is about how he hurt her.
You walked into the party
Like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror
As you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
You had me several years ago
When I was still quite naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
Well, I hear you went up to Saratoga
And your horse naturally won
Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well, you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not, you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
This page is for everything creative & fun.
Creative Grammar
Write Now: This cat is making two big mistakes. What are they?
Answer: (1) eating a cactus (2) taste should have an "s" on it because the subject (cat food) is singular)
(bonus) cat food is two words
For more like this involving grammar and literary devices: Cat grammar and devices.doc
USING MUSIC
Teaching Paradox with Music
Keep the definition simple: paradox = a contradictionProvide a number of examples.
Then: Test how well students understand the concept of a paradox by playing, "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon.
FOCUS QUESTION: Does this song contain a paradox?
EXPLANATION: Paradoxically, Simon says, "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you!" as if the song is NOT about him and he would be wrong, conceited, and vain to think it was. In reality, the song IS about him. However, Simon might argue that this is not a paradox because the song isn't about his good qualities (qualities for which he should feel vain/proud) it is about how he hurt her.
You walked into the party
Like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror
As you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
You had me several years ago
When I was still quite naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
Well, I hear you went up to Saratoga
And your horse naturally won
Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well, you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not, you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
Teaching Irony with Music